The Foundation will be active at the upcoming Internet Governance Forum (IGF) event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Foundation is organizing four workshops and one networking session.

CEO Raj Singh will also be participating in the parliamentary track discussion on collaborative approaches to addressing online harms.

At the event in Riyadh, there will be CEO Raj Singh, Senior Advisor, Strategy and Development Neeti Biyani, Digital Leap South Asia Project Lead Omar Ansari, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor Sonal Saveri, and Executive Assistant to the CEO Sophie Woodham. If you see them around, say hello!

Full details and relevant links below. Locations may be subject to change, so check the IGF schedule for confirmation.

IGF 2024 Day 0 Event #83 Empowering Afghan Women: Bridging Digital Gaps for Education

Sunday, 15 December 2024

10:45 -12:45 (UTC+3)

Workshop Room 4 – Roundtable Format (Hybrid)

This session will:

• Highlight challenges faced by Afghan women, including education bans and limited internet access.
• Showcase success stories and initiatives empowering Afghan women through technology. 
• Discuss strategies for improving internet infrastructure, digital literacy, and online safety.
• Explore partnerships and collaborative solutions to support Afghan women.

IGF 2024 WS #155 Digital Leap- Enhancing Connectivity in the Offline World

Tuesday, 17 December 2024

11:30-13:00 (UTC+3)

Workshop Room 2 – Classroom Format (Hybrid)

• Gain valuable insights into the multifaceted challenges hindering Internet connectivity in the developing world and actionable strategies to address them.
• Deepen understanding of existing disparities in Internet access, including infrastructure limitations, digital literacy gaps, and affordability issues.
• Learn about the effectiveness of current policy frameworks in promoting connectivity and digital inclusion and explore innovative technologies like fiber, wireless, satellite, and community networks that can extend Internet access to underserved communities.
• Discover the importance of public-private partnerships and regional cooperation initiatives in accelerating connectivity efforts.
• Identify opportunities for stakeholder engagement and resource mobilization.
• Learn best practices and successful initiatives and be equipped with new knowledge, insights, and tools to drive efforts towards universal Internet access and digital inclusion in the regions.

IGF 2024 [Parliamentary Session 5] Collaborative approaches to address online harms

Tuesday, 17 December 2024

11:30- 13:00 (UTC+3)

IGF 2024 [Parliamentary Session 5] Collaborative approaches to address online harms

Foundation CEO Raj Singh will join the discussion.

In today’s hyperconnected world, users are confronted with risks when relying on the Internet’s applications. Indeed, the features that make the Internet powerful can also lead to online harms that impact societies, particularly vulnerable and marginalized groups. Members of parliament have been given the delicate responsibility of developing effective legislation that enhances safety online, while balancing innovation and risks in the digital space.

The global reach and the nature of these risks require collaboration across sectors and, in some cases, across international borders. This session brings parliamentarians together with different actors from the digital community to showcase successful collaborative approaches that effectively and sustainably address online harms.

IGF 2024 WS #166 Breaking Barriers: Empowering Women in Internet Network Engineering

Tuesday, 17 December 2024

16:30-18:00 (UTC+3)

Workshop Room 1 – Classroom Format (Hybrid)

• Gain valuable insights into the multifaceted challenges hindering women’s participation in Internet development and other technical areas in the developing world and actionable strategies to address them.
• Deepen understanding of the existing disparities in women’s Internet access, including infrastructure limitations, digital literacy gaps, and affordability issues.
• Learn about the effectiveness of current policy frameworks in promoting digital inclusion, women participation.
• Discover the importance of public-private partnerships and regional cooperation initiatives in accelerating digital inclusion efforts.
  Identify opportunities for stakeholder engagement and resource mobilization.

IGF 2024 Networking Session #74 Digital Innovations Forum- Solutions for the Offline People

Wednesday, 18 December 2024

13:15-14:15 (UTC+3)

Workshop Room 7

Developing economies face pressing issues of connectivity by hosting the majority of 2.6 billion offline people, with 57% of them in South Asia. Notably, in six of the South Asian economies, over 50% of the population lacks Internet access: Afghanistan (82%), Pakistan (79%), Bangladesh (61%), Sri Lanka (56%), India (54%), Nepal (50.4%). Other regions with significant offline population include Nigeria (54.5%), Indonesia (33.5%) and China (23.6%). Asia alone harbors 1.92b offline people making it the most offline region globally. This session aims to identify innovative solutions to boost Internet access and drive digital progress in underserved regions.

The session is bringing together innovators, investors, donors, and others to work together, share ideas, and explore investment and funding options for expanding connectivity projects. Together, the participants will tackle current challenges, discuss policies, and brainstorm ways to bridge the digital gap. Moreover, the session will raise awareness among investors and donors about the digital future of offline communities, while also getting governments, industries, and civil societies engaged. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss ideas, projects, digital infrastructure, and explore investment opportunities and collaboration strategies. By the end of the session, we hope to have showcased some groundbreaking projects, identified investment and collaboration opportunities, shared insights on policy and regulation, and forged new partnerships—all with the goal of making digital inclusion a reality for everyone.

IGF 2024 WS #223 Communities of the Practice – NOGs Driving the local Internet

Thursday, 19 December 2024

09:30- 11:00 (UTC+3)

Workshop Room 5 – Roundtable Format (Hybrid)

• Gain valuable insights into the multifaceted challenges hindering network operation groups while developing and sustaining their networks and communities.
• Deepen understanding of infrastructure limitations, skills gapes, and resource issues.
• Learn about the effectiveness of current policy frameworks in promoting digital inclusion, NOG participation.
• Discover the importance of public-private partnerships and regional cooperation initiatives in Internet infrastructure development and sustainment.
• Identify opportunities for stakeholder engagement and resource mobilization.
• Learn best practices and successful initiatives and be equipped with new knowledge, insights, and tools to drive efforts towards universal Internet access and digital inclusion in the regions.